Pat Gallagher/The Valdosta Daily Times Some of the many medals hang from the neck of Steve Evans for his olympic trap shooting abilities.

Born in Lowndes County, Steven Evans’ family moved to Berrien County, just outside of Nashville, when he was three months old. He grew up on a farm in a house that was once owned by his great-grandparents.

“We had several dogs,” Evans said reminiscing. “Every time my mom said she wanted another baby, my dad would buy a dog.”

While giggling, Evans added, “I think we had about 20 dogs on the farm one time.”

Despite being an only child, Evans asserts that he is not and has never been spoiled.

“My dad got hurt when I was about seven or eight, and I had to take over the farm, so I learned hard work at a young age,” he said.

Evans started shooting rifles with his father, Tommie Evans, when he was five years old. He began to trap shoot at the age of six, when he got his first 20-gauge shotgun.

Evans did not begin to compete in trap shooting until he was 12.

“I participated in Clays for Kids a few times, but I did most of my shooting in my back yard until I was able to get on the 4-H team in high school,” Evans said.

Evans was trained by Coach John Whidden in 4-H during his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He participated in various trap shooting events until he was invited to shoot in the Georgia Junior Olympics in 2005. He was in 11th grade at the time.

Evans finished third in his class for double trap at the Georgia Junior Olympics in Hartsfield, which qualified him to shoot trap and double trap in the national championship game in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“After shooting in the championship, I was invited to compete in the National Junior Olympics, which is also in Colorado,” Evans said. “The first time I shot in the National Junior Olympics, I shot 100 out of 125 targets and ranked 38 of 129 shooting.”

In fall of 2005, Evans qualified for the World Cup Selection Match and got to compete with shooters from all over the country, including U.S. Army and Air Force teams.

“I missed several classes at the beginning of my senior year because I was competing. My teachers e-mailed several of my assignments and I had to mail the school work back to them,” he said.

After placing 25th out of 29 contestants at the World Cup Selection Match, Evans stopped shooting to finish the fall semester in school.

When class dismissed for winter break, Evans was back to shooting. In December 2005, he participated in the Florida State Championships and won his first gold medal.

“I beat out 15 shooters. That moment kind of inspired me to continue. It let me know that if I could do it one time, I could do it again. That was the first of 23 medals I’ve won so far,” he said.

Evans graduated from high school in May 2006 and took some time off from shooting. He enrolled in Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and started classes in the fall of 2006.

Evans participated in another World Cup Selection Match in the fall as well and shot in the second of three National Junior Olympics competitions.

Evans took time off from school to focus on training in 2007. During that time, he worked full-time at his father’s auction and insurance companies.

“I was trained by Dean Clark, the coach of the Army Marchmenship Unit at Fort Benning,” Evans said. “Dean has competed in two Olympic Games. His training also put three people on the 2008 Olympic team. Two brought back gold medals and the other shooter placed fourth. After I started working with Dean, I started winning more matches.”

Evans won five medals in 2007.

“I dominated the 2007 Florida State Championship,” he said. “I won a silver medal in trap and took home the gold in skeet and double trap.”

Evans was invited to compete in the Southeastern Regional this February. He won another gold medal for shooting double trap, and he placed fourth in trap. He just returned from the 2008 National Championship in Colorado, where he placed second in double trap and fourth in international trap in the collegiate division.

With more than 25 competitions under his belt, Evans trains everyday. He usually shoots up to 1,000 targets per week, half of which are shot under Clark’s supervision at Fort Benning.

Evans is also coached by two-time Olympian Todd Graves. His training partners and mentors are Glenn Eller, a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympic Games, and Bret Erickson, a six-time national champion who competed in his fourth Olympic Games this year in Beijing.

“My hard work and dedication is what drives me. My past accomplishments give me a desire to keep competing and winning. I’ve looked at the gold medal that Glenn Eller won in Beijing, and I want one just like it in 2012,” Evans said.

Evans’ annual training budget runs in excess of $50,000 annually. His sponsors include Perazzi USA Shotguns, Citizens Bank of Nashville, Farmers and Merchants Bank of Nashville, Wayne Pearson and WP Productions, Bowhunters Gun Shop, Jordan Motors, Park Avenue Bank, SoundVision, Lovein Funeral Home, Race Cars Unlimited, Kathy Harvey – Harvey’s Cleaners, Watson’s Pool and Spa, Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Ray and Son Heating and Air, Lee Starling – State Farm, Scott Johnson and Dogwood Reality.

Evans added that he has received ample support from Bill Perry, Butch Houston, Ed Perry and William Sirmans.

Evans welcomes new sponsors and mentioned that he also offers individual and group coaching in trap and double trap.

Evans is now a sophomore at ABAC and hopes to transfer to the University of Georgia (UGA) or Valdosta State University (VSU) in spring of 2009. He is undecided on a major right now but expressed an interest in sports psychology.

Evans has worked at Advanced Auto Parts since January and usually works 35 hours a week. He is also part of the search and rescue team in his community.

He recently proposed and got engaged to Jeri Anna Guthrie.

“I’ve known my fiancee for four years, but we have dated for two. She supports my shooting and that really helps me. She often comes with me when I compete as well,” he said.

Evans added that Guthrie graduated from UGA and now teaches agriculture at Cook High School in Adel. The couple plans to marry within the next two years.

When he is not trap shooting or with his fiancee, Evans can be found with his parents.

“We are really close,” he said.

“I don’t watch television. I have a Myspace and Facebook account, but I guess I’m not on there enough to say I do,” he added.

Since he began to shoot at age five, Evans has been trained by the best and is now ready to shoot with the best.

“I missed shooting in the 2008 Olympics by 10 targets, and I will not let that happen again. I’m training everyday and working my hardest. I know the next Olympics will be my time,” he said.

Potential sponsors can contact Evans at 229-560-3635.